Doncaster Rovers: Ferguson’s high hopes for Longbottom

Paul Goodwin

Seventeen-year-old Will Longbottom’s goalscoring cameo at Rossington Main showed just why he is so highly thought of at Doncaster Rovers.

And, according to Darren Ferguson, the Leeds-born forward has the ability to become a regular fixture in the first team squad this season.

Longbottom, who joined Rovers’ academy at the age of 11, looks set to miss the forthcoming friendlies against Middlesbrough and Newcastle though - with Ferguson keen for him to travel to Sweden with the youth team for next week’s Gothia Cup.

“I’ve got high hopes for the boy, I think he’s going to be a good player,” Ferguson told The Star.

“He’s got a good chance.

“He’s grown a little bit as well, physically.

“We’re hopeful that he’s probably going to be with us [the first team] for quite a bit this season.

“He’ll probably go with the youth team to Sweden because it’s an important tournament for them.

“It’s a good opportunity for him to learn different things over there.”

Ferguson added: “The young lads that came with us to Scotland for the training camp - Will, Reece [Fielding] and Josh [Barker] - they’ve all done well.

“Young Morgan [James] is only a first year and I thought he did really well [against Rossington].